TRIPOLI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Friday called for the release of Siham Sergewa, a member of the Libyan House of Representatives, or the parliament.
Sergewa was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen and taken to an unknown location six months ago in the eastern city Benghazi.
"Siham Sergewa, an elected member of the House of Representatives, was seized at night from her home in the heavily fortified Buhedima District of Benghazi. Since her violent abduction, Sergewa's fate remains unknown," UNSMIL said in a statement.
"UNSMIL continues to follow up on the enforced disappearance of Sergewa and reiterates that the authorities in eastern Libya are responsible for respecting international human rights law and are legally obliged to establish the fate and whereabouts of Sergewa," the statement said.
In July 2019, unidentified gunmen kidnapped Sergewa from her home in Benghazi, took her to an unknown location and shot her husband.
The UN-backed Libyan government based in the capital Tripoli held the rival eastern-based army responsible for the incident.
Benghazi is under the control of the eastern-based army, which is currently engaged in a deadly armed conflict against the UN-backed government over the control of Tripoli.
